FTC, FCC to Discuss Long-Distance Issues

The Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission said yesterday that they will have a joint public forum on the marketing of long-distance telephone services at the FCC headquarters in Washington on Nov. 4. The agencies said consumers are often confused or misled by the advertising of these services, which include "10-10" phone numbers and other discount calling plans. Among the topics will be whether the advertisements, which often include direct mail, adequately disclose the actual costs to consumers. In other FTC news, the Direct Marketing Association was expected by early this week to notify its members that it had been contacted by the FTC concerning possible violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule. A DMA spokesman said the FTC warned the DMA that consumers have been complaining that some companies are not honoring requests to be removed from calling lists.